Petula Martyn

"In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes," wrote Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.

The cost of living continues to felt among consumers with 72% saying they expect Christmas shopping to be significantly more expensive this year, while 36% expect to spend less compared to last year.

The CEO of Maxol has said the cap on retail floorspace of 100m² in the forecourt and convenience retail sector needs to be lifted to facilitate growth.

It has been a good week for Elon Musk. The world's richest man has been appointed by US President-elect Donald Trump to lead the Department of Government Efficiency.

The global investment landscape looks set to enter a period of divergence as the return of a Trump administration in the US sets the tone for the year ahead.

Black Friday sales are an established part of the Irish retail calendar, as demonstrated by a Bank of Ireland report which shows spending by its customers was up 6.8% on last year.

The average household will spend €1555 more in retail during the month of December compared to other months, and that's up 1% on last year.

What was on the menu for the hospitality and tourism sector in 2024? A very difficult year. It served up hundreds of restaurant closures.

Venture Capital investment in Ireland remained stable last year; it picked up in the final quarter despite the challenging funding environment, and there are signs of confidence returing in 2025.

Global investors are assessing the potential impact of President Donald Trump's second term in office, and appear encouraged that he would not immediately launch trade tariffs against some of America's largest trading partners.